Goa Congress Event Sparks Row After Vande Mataram Not Sung in Full

On 12 September, a Congress rally was held in Goa to celebrate a local election victory. The organizers announced that the national anthem Vande Mataram would be performed, but the rendition was cut short, omitting the final verses. The abrupt ending prompted several attendees to protest, demanding that the anthem be sung in full as a sign of respect for the nation. Media coverage of the incident highlighted the growing sensitivity around national symbols and the expectations of political parties to uphold them.